When Ithaca High School's 1997 football season opens Sept. 6, the team will be playing on East Hill instead of on the flats. Home games for the Little Red of Ithaca High this fall will be at Cornell's Schoellkopf Field, where the Big Red play.

While IHS Coach Frank Fazio's team is ready for the season, the high-school field is not. Bredbenner Field is in the midst of major surgery to improve drainage and replace an aging natural turf. The project was started June 23, said Bill Bryant, IHS athletic director, but new sod will not be placed on the field until the week of Sept. 15.

"We won't be able to play on the field until next spring," Bryant said, "so we needed a temporary home field and Cornell was most cooperative in helping us work out the arrangements. Cornell brought a great team to the table for our planning."

Details were completed over the summer and a contract was signed Aug. 26.

"We're excited about this opportunity for our players and our coaches to play their home games in one of college football's legendary stadiums," Bryant said. "This is a thrill of a lifetime for the team, the coaches, and our supporters."

David Stewart, Cornell's director of community relations, said: "The university is pleased to be able to assist Ithaca High School. We have had many cooperative efforts over the years, such as sharing equipment and facilities, and sectional playoffs in various sports often are played at Schoellkopf." On several occasions, Cornell has used the high-school track, including in 1995 when the Schoellkopf track was being replaced.

The Ithaca High School home schedule is:

• Sept. 6 (7 p.m.) -- John Marshall High School, Rochester
• Sept. 20 (7 p.m.) -- Norwich High School
• Oct. 18 (8 p.m.) -- Binghamton High School
• Oct. 24 (7 p.m.) -- Opponent to be announced in mid September